Milking-machine pulsator



Oct. 23, 1928. 1,688,863

s; J. ERLING MILKING MACHINE PULSATQR Filed ma 28, 1927 v M/VE/VTUI? mm sss: W. Sven (/ofiavz 5/172 M ay Patented Get. 23, 1928.

UN ED STATE masses PATENT Q i ICE...

SVEN JOHAN Eli/LING, OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, ASSIGNOR TO TEE DE LAVAL SEPARA- TOR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., COEPORATTON OF NEW JERSEY.

MILKING-MACHINE PULSATOB.

Application filed May 28, 1927, Serial No. 19%,911, and in Sweden June in, 15226.

wheel mass reverses the regulating elementat certain regular intervals. The oscillating fly-wheel mass is driven by a driving mecha- Pulsators of this kind are shown but have not gone into general use because of certain serious defects. In earlier known constructions the driving mechanism has been so connected with the oscillating fly-wheel mass that energy has been transmitted to the flywheel mass during the larger part of the period of oscillation and also near to the pointot reversal of direction of oscillation. In such constructions, variations in the driving mechanism are likely to influence the flywheel mass in such a way as to vary the time of oscillation.

In certain earlier constructions, the regulating element is so directly connected with the oscillating fly-wheel mass that a certain position of the former always corresponds to a certain position of the latter. Such a construction has the defect that the amplitude of the oscillation must be kept small and the influence of the driving mechanism on the time of oscillation is increased.

The present invention comprises a pulsator of the above generic type, but embodies structural features that eliminate defects therein. The invention is characterized by the fact that the fly-wheel mass and the regulating element are not fixedly connected but are so coupled together that the amplitude of the fly wheel mass is independent of the movement of the regulating element. Another feature of the invention is that the driving mechanism is of such a nature, and so connected with the fly-wheel mass, that the driving power is transmitted from the driving mechanism to; the fly-wheel mass only during a part, and a limited part, of the. oscillating movement, whereby the fly wheel mass near to the points of reversal will be entirely independent of the driving mechanism. Another feature of the invention is that the driving power FOB l the drivineelhanisni is transmitted to the wheel mass by meansof a flexible element, in which potential energy accumulates during the time the driving mechanismis driving, which energy is transmitted to the fly-wheel In the drawings, which show different embodiments of the invention: I

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of the flywheel mass and of the means for driving the same. through springs, from a pneumatimodification.

Fig. 5 is a diagram of another form of pneumatically actuated motor for driving the fly-wheel mass.

A rotating fly-wheel mass 1 (see Fig. 1 is fixed to a rotating shaft 2. ,On the shaft 2 is fixed a disc 3 provided with a pin 4. In the oscillating movements of the shaft, the pin 4; comes into contact with the flexible elements 5? and 5?, shown in Fig. 2, which are carried by a 'pneumatie regulating element for transmit-ting pneumatic pulsations, such as a piston 6 slidable in a casing 7. This casing provided with end circular channels 21 and 22 that communicate with the atmosphere or other source of relatively high absolute pressure, with an opening 8 that communicates with a vacuum pump or other source of relatively low absolute pressure, and with openings 9 and 10 that communicate, through pipes 0 and (Z, respectively, with the pulsation chambers of two pairs of teat cups a and 7). The casing is also provided' (in the construction shown in"-2) with two openings that communicate with channels 11 and 19 formed in' a block 20 in, or forming part of, a motor housing 16, hereinafter described.

1 In the position of the valve 6 shown in Fig. 2, the opening 8. through which suction is applied, communicates with the opening'lO, thereby connectin with vacuumthe Ptflsa tion chambers of teat cups while the no] 22, open to atmosphere, communicates with the opening 9, thereby connecting with atmosphere the pulsation chambers of the teat cups (1.

Referring again to 1: The fly-wheel mass is provided with a lug 12. An scillating arm 14. is secured. to a positively driven oscillating shaft 17 sleeved on shaft 2. A spiral spring 13 is coiled about shaft 2 and sleeve 17 and engages, near its opposite ends. lug 12 and arm 1 L respectively. Assuming that the fly-wheel mass and disc 3 rotate clockwise (Fig. 2), the pin 4, after the flywheel mass has been turned, by means of arm 14 act-- ing through spring 13, for a certain part of a revolution, will come into touch with the bevelled or bent face of flexible element This element is so shaped that when the pulsator has the indicated posit-ion, the element bends downwards (Fig. 1), without actuating pulsation valve 6, thereby allowing the fly-wheel mass, without being hindered by the pulsator valve,to continue its rotating movement. In a certain position, the total energy of the system is accumulated in the spring in the form of potential energy, whereby the movement of the flywheel mass will be reversed.

Pin 4, in the return movement of the flywheel mass, engages the flexible element 5 and slides along the front edge of the same and positively moves it upward. (Fig. 2), which displaces the piston 6 until it comes into the position opposite to that shown in Fig. 2, whereupon channel comes into connection with the outer atmosphere and the channel 9 with the constant vacuum.

During the continued movement of the flywheel mass, pin i contacts with the bevelled or bent part of the flexible element 5, which is so shaped that it is pressed down by pin 1, without effecting actuation of valve 6, whereby pine and the fly-wheel 1 can, without any hindrance, continue their movement. )Vhen the spring can drive the fly-wheel mass in this direction no further, the fly-wheel mass reverses its movement, whereupon the pin engages the flexible element 5 in such a way that the pulsator piston 6 is returned to the position shown in Fig. 2.

Sleeve 17 has imparted to, it the described movement of oscillation by means of a piston oscillating in housing 16 (see Fig. 3). The hereinbefore described channels 11 and 19 open into the piston chamber on opposite sides of piston 15. In one of the end poitions of valve 6 (the position shown in Fig. 2), atmospheric pressure is transmitted to the piston chamber below piston 15 y 3) while the space above piston 15 is connected with vacuum, thereby causing the piston to swing up. In the other end position of valve 6, atmospheric pressure is transmitted to the space above piston 15 (Fig. 3) while the space below piston 15 is connected with vacuum, thereby causing the piston to move down.

Channel 19 and theorifice in casing 7 communicating therewith may be omitted, and instead there may be provided in the housing a hole 18 (see Fig. 4), which transmits constant atmospheric pressure to the lower part of housing 16 (Fig. 3). In the position of valve 6 and oscillating piston 15 shown in Figures 2 and i, there is atmospheric pressure on the lower side, and vacuum on the upper side, of the oscillating piston. The oscillating piston is thus accelerated and will get a higher speed than the fly-wheel mass 1, which speed, by the arm 14, is transmitted to the spring 13, which thereby is put under tension. The energy which in this way is accumulated in the spring must be suflicient to cover the friction losses during a whole oscillation. In the opposite position of valve 6, atmospheric pressure will prevail on both sides of the 0scillating piston 15, which during the return movement is to be driven by the fly-wheel mass by means of the spring 13.

In the construction wherein channel 19 is eliminated and at atmospheric port 18 pro vided, the respective ends of spring 13 should be rigidly attached to lug 12 of the fly-wheel mass and oscillating arm 14, whereas in the construction wherein the two channels 11 and 19 are provided, the ends of spring 13 should not be rigidly fixed to arm 14 and lug 12.

The constructions described are merely two of many different embodiments of the invention. It is not necessary to utilize an air motor to oscillate sleeve 17, but if an air motor is provided, it may be embodied in other forms than that shown. Thus, in Fig. 5, the oscillating piston is replaced by a reciprocating piston 30, which, by means of an arm 32, oscillates the shaft 17 that transmits power to fly-wheel 1. Opposite ends of the piston chamber 31 are shown connected respectively to ports 11 and 19 communicating with valve casing 7. This construction has the advantage of making it comparatively easy to avoid air leakage around the piston.

In case there should be used a secondary pulsator, such, for example, as that disclosed in the Leitch Patent No. 1,255,186, dated February 8, 1918, one of the pulsator ports (9 and 10) may be omitted. So, also, even in the case of transmission of pulsations direct to the teat cup, one of these pulsation ports may be omitted if it is not desired to pulsate two pairs of teat cups alternately.

Where, in the claims, reference is made to pressure and vacuum, I intend to comprehend any workable differential absolute pressures of air or other operative fluid.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A pulsating apparatus for milking machines, which comprises a regulating element adapted to transmit pulsations toward the teat cups, a driving device, an oscillatorymesses flywheel mass adapted to actuate the regulating element, and means connecting the driving device and the fly-wheel mass adapted to transmit the power or the driving device to the fly-wheel mass during only a part of the latters oscillation and. to allow the fly-wheel mass to move independently oi the driving device during a substantial part of its oscillation. V

2. A pulsating apparatus for milking machines, which comprises a regulating elementadapted to transmit pulsations toward the teat cups, a driving device, an oscillatory fly-wheel mass adapted to actuate the regulating element, and means connecting the driving device and the fly-wheel mass, said means compris spring mechanism adapted to transmit the power of the driving device of the fly-wheel mass, to allow the fl is wheel mass to continue to travel after such transmission of power ceases, and to accumulate potential energy and transmit the same to the fly-wheel mass and arrest and reverse it.

3. A pulsating apparatus for milking machines, which comprises a regulating element adapted to transmit pulsations toward the teat cups, an oscillatory fly-wheel mass adapted to actuate the regulating element, a driving device, means connecting the driving device and the fly-wheel mass adapted to transmit the driving power to the fiy-wheel mass to drive it in one direction and allow the fly-wheel mass to continue its movement in that direction under its own momentum and adapted, at the end of its movement in that direction, to reverse the fly-wheel mass.

4%. A pulsating apparatus for milking machines, which comprises a regulating element adapted to transmit pulsations toward the teat cups, an oscillatory fiy-wheel mass adapted to actuate the regulating element, a driving device, means connecting the driving device and the flywheel mass adapted to transmit the driving power to the flywheel mass to drive it in both directions and allow the fly-wheel mass to continue its n1ovcment in both directions and adapted, at the end of its movement in each direction, to re verse the fly-wheel mass.

5. A pulsating apparatus for milking ma chines, which comprises a driving device, a regulating element movable into difierent positions to transmit pulsations toward the teat cup and also to control the operation of the regulating element, an oscillatory flywheel mass adapted to actuate the regulating element, and means connecting the driving device and the fly-wheel mass adapted to transmit the power of the driving device to the fly-wheel mass during a part only of the latters oscillation in one direction and to allow the fly-wheel mass to continue movementin that direction by its own momentum and to accumulate potential energy and trans mit the same to the fly-wheel mass and arrest and reverse it, said fly-wheel mass in its reverse movement actuating the regulating element to shift i into position to render the driving device ineffective to prevent the continuance of said reverse movement.

'6. A pulsatingapparatus tor milking machines, Which comprises a driving device, a regulating element movable into different positions to transmit pulsations toward the teat cup and also to control the operation of the regulating element, an oscillatory flywheel mass adapted to actuate the regulating element, and means connecting the driving device and the fly-wheel mass adapted to transmit the power of the driving device to the fly-wheel mass during a parton-ly of the latte-rs oscillation in each direction and allow the fly-wheel mass to continue movement in that direction by its own momentum and to accumulate potential energy and transmit the same to the flywheel and arrest and re verse it, said fly-wheel mass in its reverse movement actuating the regulating element to shift it into position to render the driving device'eflective to transmit power to drive the fly-wheel mass in said reverse direction.

7. A pulsating apparatus for milking machines, which comprises a regulating element adapted to transmit pneumatic pulsations toward the teat cups, an oscillatory fly-wheel mass adapted to actuate the regulating element, a motor, a spring adapted to transmit the driving power of the motor to the fly-wheel mass and to accumulate energy adapted to reverse the movement of the flywheel mass, and means, controlled by the regulating element, to control the motor.

8. A pulsating apparatus for milking ma chines, which comprises a regulating element adapted to transmit pneumatic pulsations toward the teat cups, an oscillatory flywheel mass adapted to actuate the regulating element, a motor comprising a piston, a spring between the piston and fly-wheel mass adapted to transmit the driving power of the motor to the fly-wheel mass and to accumulate energy adapted to reverse the movement of the fly-wheel mass, a source of Vacuum, and air transmission means, controlled by the regulating element, adapted to connect one side of the piston alternately with pressure and vacuum.

9. A pulsating apparatus for milking machines, which comprises a regulating element adapted to transmit pneumatic pulsations toward the teat cups, an oscillatory fly-wheel mass adapted to actuate the regulating element, a motor comprising a piston, a spring between the piston and fly-wheel mass adapted to transmit the driving power of the motor to the fly-wheel mass and to accumulate energy adapted to reverse the movement of the fly-wheel mass, a source of vacuum, and erron the axis of the fly-wheel mass, a spring between said arm and the fly-Wheel mass, a motor adapted to oscillate said arm, and means controlled by the regulating element to control the operation of the motor.

11. In a pulsating apparatus for milking machines, the combination of a driving motor, a regulating element comprising a pulsator valve, an oscillatory fly-wheel mass, a motor, a spring through which the power of the motor is transmitted to the flywheel mass, devices connected with the valve and adapted, in the fore parts of the movement of the flywheel mass in both directions,to be actuated by the fly-wheel mass to shift the valve into opposite positions, there being ports and passages through which pneumatic pulsations are transmitted from the valve toward the teat cups and also from the valve to the motor to control the operation of the motor.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Stockholm, Sweden, on this 7th day of May, 1927.

SVEN JOHAN ERLING. 

